The approach of the 2026-27 Budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was “playing to the gallery”, said V. Sunil Kumar, former BJP minister and Karkala MLA on Friday.
It was not a “11 G” Budget as claimed by Mr. Siddaramaiah, but a Budget of “11 L” (eleven lies), Mr. Kumar said.
Questioning the “Beyond Bengaluru” development initiative of the government, the former minister said that the proposed urban development projects did not cross the jurisdiction of Bengaluru. “It was an anti-coastal Karnataka” Budget, he alleged, stating that there is no clarity on tourism promotion proposals. It lacked comprehensive development proposals for coastal Karnataka, he said.
Calling the Budget as “not progressive”, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Capt. Brijesh Chowta said that it is a matter of concern that the total borrowings of the State has touched to ₹ 8.24 lakh crores. “It highlights the economic indiscipline of the government,” Capt. Chowta said.
Kishore Kumar Puttur, MLC said that the Budget indicated minority appeasement. No grants were announced for promoting coastal tourism. The Chief Minister did not reserve any fund for the proposed Government Medical College at Puttur. There was no plan for preventing sea erosion. Arecanut growers were ignored by not announcing any special package for controlling kole roga, yellow leaf disease and leaf spot disease, he said.
